Selling a Car: Is This Message a Scam?

[qwerty88]

Hello All,

So I placed an advert online for a car I want to sell and got this message, I've never sold a car privately but this strikes me as odd because I would have expected a test drive or an inspection by someone (RAC or AA do multi-point car checks for perspective buyers) at least before committing to buying the car? See what you think, any help appreciated!

"Great! please consider it sold and take the ads down off __,i am buying it for my son and i am ready to pay your full asking price, i have read through the advert and i'm totally satisfied with it and i will be glad if you can get back to me fast, sadly i won't be able to come for the inspection and pick up due to my disabilities, i loss my hearing and being on a wheelchair but I have a courier agent that will help me to pick it up at your preferred location.
Regarding the payment i can only pay via PayPal at the moment and I will be responsible for all the PayPal fee/charges on this transaction kindly get back to me with your PayPal email and the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now?
Awaiting your reply soon..."

[sparkythecat]

[bigvanfan]

Scam ignore

[Monkeylegend]

If you do reply put your caps lock on.

[Negative Creep]

[qwerty88]

Great, thanks guys.

I thought it was but started to doubt myself thinking I am being a t**t / not very trusting of people but there you go.

[funkyrobot]

People always moan about the issues with selling a car. This person has offered to take the car and make the transaction easy, and you are questioning this OP?

Seems fine to me.

[EazyDuz]

I enjoy trolling them for a while to see how much they can stand. Reply with something like, 'Very sorry to hear. I have a friend who is thinking of upgrading his wheelchair, is yours any good, what make and model is it? In the mean time i'll get the pw for my paypal account, my wife has it but she is away for a week on holiday and she doesnt have a mobile phone, thanks in advance'

[qwerty88]

funkyrobot said:

People always moan about the issues with selling a car. This person has offered to take the car and make the transaction easy, and you are questioning this OP?

Seems fine to me.

Yes, I am questioning it. Seems to good to be true, most things that do, normally aren't.

I don't even have a Paypal account but I have heard negative reviews of it.

Whats wrong with an instant bank transfer (or cash but I can imagine why someone wouldn't want to carry that amount with them) at the time of exchange?

[alangtt]

So how does that scam work then?

[TankRizzo]

alangtt said:

So how does that scam work then?

"Courier" picks car up. "Buyer" transfers money to your account.

Payment is reversed some time later due to stolen card/hacked account/other.

No car or money.


Bonus:

"Buyer" transfers you £3000 (if the car is say £2500) and asks you to give courier £500 on pickup.
Same happens, only this time you're down the car and 500 quid.

[qwerty88]

alangtt said:

So how does that scam work then?

Who knows? I have no idea how Paypal works. Can someone even make a payment through Paypal using just an email address?

EDIT: Tank may have just answered your question.

[bigvanfan]

qwerty88 said:

Who knows? I have no idea how Paypal works. Can someone even make a payment through Paypal using just an email address?

Yes

[EazyDuz]

qwerty88 said:

Who knows? I have no idea how Paypal works. Can someone even make a payment through Paypal using just an email address?

yes

[Monkeylegend]

alangtt said:

So how does that scam work then?

Buyer claims he is deaf, pays seller, money is paid/claimed back, seller phones up buyer and he doesn't respond because he is deaf.

[bigvanfan]

alangtt said:

So how does that scam work then?

This is why people lose thousands of pounds every day

[stevensdrs]

Oh come on, this is so obviously a scam e-mail. No wonder the scammers are doing so well when st like this even needs to be discussed.

[996TT02]

stevensdrs said:

Oh come on, this is so obviously a scam e-mail. No wonder the scammers are doing so well when st like this even needs to be discussed.

This.

Here's how it will go.

Buyer will "send" you full payment, plus payment for transport/courier/whatever, and will request that you send (this time, no quotes) the money he "sent" for the transport, to the transport company. Which is probably the same person as the "buyer".

The end. But he never sent you any money in the first place. But you did.

The car just does not figure but you are £500, £1000 out of pocket, whatever they convince you to part with for the "transport".

Next!

[Morningside]

I would reply and just give a load of crap saying it will be supplied without a wiring loom or has installed a 2015 ogglebox upgrade with 3 gear upgrade and they will still ask for it to be shipped.

[Monkeylegend]

996TT02 said:

stevensdrs said:

Oh come on, this is so obviously a scam e-mail. No wonder the scammers are doing so well when st like this even needs to be discussed.

This.

Here's how it will go.

Buyer will "send" you full payment, plus payment for transport/courier/whatever, and will request that you send (this time, no quotes) the money he "sent" for the transport, to the transport company. Which is probably the same person as the "buyer".

The end. But he never sent you any money in the first place. But you did.

The car just does not figure but you are £500, £1000 out of pocket, whatever they convince you to part with for the "transport".

Next!

Better to ask and be ridiculed, than be out of pocket